However, with a change of government, just where could SVG be in 2027?

If SVG took back our fish licence from Taiwan, cut ties with Taiwan and set up our own tuna fishing and canning industry, this would bring in billions of dollars a year of revenue to the SVG Treasury and create thousands of new, long-term jobs. We could have mass employment in 2027.

If SVG abolished the Mustique Act No. 48 of 2002, and other similar Acts that give customs duty and tax exemptions to super-rich foreigners, and imposed a windfall tax on the super-rich of Mustique and Canouan and other foreigners that have failed to pay tax, we would have enough money to restructure our economy.

If SVG used this money to build factories for agro-processing and exporting our farmers’ produce, we could create sustainable sources of revenue for our farmers and create thousands of new jobs. By 2027, we could have a strong and sustainable agricultural sector.

If SVG created a renewable energy industry, producing electricity from the sun, wind and hydro, we could significantly reduce the amount of money being lost from our country each month buying expensive oil and have virtually free electricity by 2027. All households could then have mains electricity.

If SVG exported excess fresh drinking water in tanker-loads and used the profit to reduce the cost of water, by 2027, all households in SVG could have mains water and have access to clean drinking water. The $25 monthly tax on the water bill could be cancelled.

If SVG created legislation to ban the sale of land in SVG to foreigners, by 2027, we could significantly reduce the amount of land owned by foreigners and help ensure that the land of our country is inherited by Vincentian children.

If SVG modernised the education system and brought in free, high-quality education from pre-school to university, free books and free uniforms, built a secondary school in Canouan and built a science and technology university for SVG’s children, by 2027, we could have hundreds of Vincentians a year becoming university graduates.

If SVG invested some of the revenue from a tuna fishing and canning industry and taxing the super-rich, by 2027, we could have

• a free national health service, new hospitals in Kingstown and Union Island and a significant reduction in premature deaths;• free, wireless internet access throughout SVG;• abolished VAT;• a significant reduction in poverty and crime.

If SVG abolished the charge for Rabacca sand, by 2027, a lot more Vincentians will have been able to build themselves a secure home.

If SVG had its own Central Bank and its own currency, by 2027, we could have a strong economy, be financially stable and have a modest foreign exchange reserve.

The ULP regime is a failure. SVG needs change to create revenue, a strong economy and thousands of new jobs, and more importantly, to improve the quality of life and the standard of living for all who live in SVG.